Water: will we have enough? Colorado, specifically the headwaters of the Colorado River, is facing ever increasing complexity in water administration and pressure to beneficially use every available drop of water.
Water users on both the east and west slopes of Colorado, as well as downstream states in the Colorado River basin depend on this water, but its streamflows are increasingly variable and difficult to forecast due to many changes, including climate and fire impacts. Airborne Snow Observatories, Inc. (ASO) delivers innovative snow measurement technologies and data products which provide a valuable new tool to all water sector stakeholders for making decisions in the complex water landscape of Colorado. ASO uses airborne lidar to provide one of the most accurate real-time measurements of mountain snowpack across entire watersheds, supporting runoff forecast improvements and management decision-making. Northern Water is involved in planning operations of the Colorado-Big Thompson and Windy Gap Projects, and streamflow forecasts are a critical tool in planning the most efficient operations to optimize reservoir fill, power generation, and environmental benefit, while minimizing spill. Northern Water has partnered with ASO, Inc, since 2022 to acquire enhanced snow data and improve forecasts. In this talk we will discuss the motivation, technology, and benefit of ASO, as well as its use and results in Colorado, specifically at Northern Water.
Jeffrey Deems has helped pioneer the use of lidar snow depth mapping in support of hydrologic science, water management, and avalanche mitigation. As a founding member of the NASA JPL Airborne Snow Observatory Science Team, he helped develop the lidar mapping and data fusion workflows while fostering connections with hydrologic forecasting and water management operations. His interests and expertise in avalanche and snow hydrology research and operations combine field data collection, modeling, and remote sensing in mountain watersheds in the western US and around the globe, and actively further innovations in science and management applications.
Emily leads the streamflow forecasting program in the Water Resources department at Northern Water. She is passionate about innovative projects to improve streamflow forecasting and hydrologic data. Before working at Northern Water, she worked in Water Resources at the City of Greeley and received her MS in hydrologic sciences from the University of Colorado, Boulder.